Pedal for player-pianos



J. W. DICKINSON.

PEDAL FOR PLAYER PIANOS.-

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9. 1919.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

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N T D STATES PATENT oEEIoE. I

JOSEPH WILLIAM DICKINSON, or CRANFORD, N W 'JEItsEY, ASSIGNOR T0 SCI-IUBERT PIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PEDAL FOR PLAYER-PIANOS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WILLIAM DIoKINsoN a citizen of the United States, residing at 1 Spruce street, Cranford, in the county of Union, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Pedals for Player-Pianos; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

i This invention relates to player pianos and particularly to a pedal support therefor which is of simpleand relatively inexpensive construction easily manufactured and Well adapted to the accomplishment of its intended purpose,

Among the objects of my invention is the reduction of the number of parts required in a player pianopedal support and the facilitation of the assembly thereof with resulting advantages in manufacturing cost of such devices.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of the piano structure showing my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Pedal supports for pl yer pianos as heretofore commonly constructed and used have embodied a number of small parts, requiring careful attention in assembling and therefore increased cost both of the material and of the labor employed. For example, the supporting feet have been made as separate members which must be fitted and fastened to the support and the pedals have been secured to the support by collars to prevent lateral displacement of the pedals in use. I propose to eliminate the separate feet and collars without detracting in any way from the utility of the device, my invention being advantageous, moreover, in that the simplicity of the structure adds to the general attractive appearance of the player piano.

Specification of Letters-Patent. V P te t 0 1;, 21, 919, Application filed my 9, 1919-. 7 Serial No. 309,751.

Referring to the drawing in which I have illustrated the best. mode of applying my lnvention', 5 indicates a portion of the frame of a player piano in which the bellows 6 are mounted. The bellows may be of any preferred form or construction, such devices being commonly employed in player pianos to producethe required vacuum in the wind chest ,and operating pneumatics: (not shown) My invention comprises two side arm 7, each pivoted in a suitable bracket 8 on the frame 5, and preferably consisting of rods,

of circular or'other cross section, having their free ends bent downwardly to provide feet 9 integral with the side arms and carrying tips 9 of rubber or other suitable yielding material to prevent injury to the floor upon which the feet rest when the pedals are in use.

The side arms 7 are connected by a pivot bar 10, the ends of the bar being preferably disposed in suitable openings in the side arms 7 and secured by nuts 11. This con struction is very desirable requiring a minimum amount of machine work and labor in preparing and assembling the parts, it being apparent that the structure is of the simplest character.

Two pedals 12 are supported on the pivot bar 10 the latter being provided with spaced circumferential grooves 13 to receive screws 14: mounted in the pedals and adapted to engage the grooves. ment of the pedals is thereby permitted, the pedals being constrained merely against lateral movement. The latter result is accomplished, however, without the aid of separate collars or similar parts.

The pedals are connected to the respective bellows 6 by links 15 and 15 so that actuation of the pedals in the usual manner results in the operation of the bellows to produce the required vacuum as hereinbefore mentioned. When the player piano is not in use the pedals may be swung into the casing thereof, the side arms 7 being pivoted to the frame 5 for this purpose. The pedals may thus be inconspicuously disposed within the casing which is preferably provided with the usual closure for the pedal chamber.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have perfected an extremely simple and effective pedal support which is desirable both from the standpoint of the Full freedom of move-' manufacturer who desires to reduce his costs, and from that of the user who requires. a device of pleasing appearancetofore considered essential in a player piano pedal support.

Various changes may obviously be made in the form, arrangement and construction of the parts without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages.

I claim:

1. In a pedal support for player pianos, the combination of spaced side armspivoted on the frame of the piano and having integral down-turned ends forming feet adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a pivot bar having its ends disposed in suitable openings in said side arms, nuts securing said ends, said pivot bar having spaced circumferential grooves, pedalsvloosely mounted on said pivot bar and having means engaging said grooves, a bellows and operative connections between said pedals and bellows.

2. In a pedal support for player pianos, the combination of spaced side'arms pivoted on the, frame of the pianoand having integral down-turned ends forming feet adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a pivot bar connecting said arms and provided with spaced circumferential grooves, pedals loosely mounted on said pivot bar and having means engaging said grooves, a bellows and operative connections between said pedals and bellows.

3. In a pedal support for player pianos, th combination of spaced side arms pivoted on the frame of the piano and having integral clown-turned ends forming feet adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a pivot bar connecting said arms and provided with spaced circumferential grooves, pedals loosely mounted on said pivot bar, screws insaid pedals engaging said grooves whereby? said pedals are readily assembled and held in spaced relation on said pivot bar, a bellows and operative connections betweensaid pedals and bellows.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH WVILLIAM DICKINSON;

copies-of thin patent may be obtained !or five cents each, by addressing the fComniissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

